November 2003
The small band of visiting supporters with their drums and songs enjoyed their visit to Manchester and they gave enthusiastic support to their team who joined together for group therapy before the game.
Seaman did his stuff with two good saves to keep the lead. First he saved a header from Rasiak - above left and then six minutes later he flung himself to block a good shot from Kajac- above right
City 1 Groclin Dyskobolia 1 November 6th
EUFA Cup R2 att 32,506
After a good first 15 minutes City gave a passionless and listless display against a hard working Polish side. The second leg in Poland on a small pitch in wintery conditions is going to be a real test of the ambitions of the City players who looked last night as though they could walk through the match without any effort on their part.

Claudio Reyna missed a great early chance - shooting over - left - following a good passing movement involving McManaman and Fowler. Reyna did all the right things except put the ball in the net! What a costly miss that was.

After 25 minutes Reyna looked as though he had pulled a hamstring and he was substituted by Bosvelt.

After six minutes City took the lead. A through ball from Fowler found Anelka just onside and he clipped the ball over a hesitant giant of a keeper Liberda - right

One nil to City and a really stupid thought came into my mind ! Could we beat the 8 scored by Monaco the previous evening in Europe?

Yeh yeh it was really stupid as it turned out!

The City defence certainly had more to do compared with their last home European ties and the speed of the visiting forwards gave Seaman and co some anxious moments
After 39 minutes City should have increased their lead. A free kick from Tarnat was deflected just wide of the Groclin goal by Robbie Fowler - above
Almost immediately McManaman was substituted by Danny Tiatto the visitors scored . A dubious free kick was awarded just outside the penalty area. Mila curled the resultant free kick into the top corner beating Seaman - above left. The 800 or so visiting supporters went crazy realising their dream of an away goal - a vital ploy in the EUFA Cup.
City continued to press but I am afraid the attacks were too predictable with often three defenders surrounding Wright -Phillips when he went down the wing. Barton was way off form with poor passing as was Tarnat who had his worse game for City. Wanchope replaced Fowler and he missed a good chance late in the game. Oh for a Berkovic in midfield to thread the ball through for the strikers. I was disappointed to see he was not even on the bench.

The Poles rather spoilt their efforts with histrionics when injured which wasted time and the appearance of unwanted stretchers annoyed a very quiet City crowd. I am afraid the lack of passion of the City players affected the crowd and it will take a special display in Poland to rescue City's hopes in Europe. We should have been three up by half time and once again missed chances have proved costly.

With too many players off the boil I wonder whether the 'January sales' will bring some fresh blood and ideas to the club. The importance of finishing in the top 4 with Europe in mind for next season can not be minimized.

City never really upped the pace to finish this tie so now they have it all to do in a few weeks time.

Team
Seaman 7: Sun 6, Dunne 7, Distin 7, Tarnat 4: Wright-Phillips 6, Reyna 6 (Bosvelt 5 ) Barton 4, McManaman 6 : Fowler 7 (Wanchope 6) Anelka 7:
Back to City 2003-04
It was a full house again for the visit of Leicester and the return of Howey and Dickov. It was dull and rain threatened and we were in for some surprises when the City team was announced. The absence of an injured Seaman was the first shock with Kevin Ellegaard making his full debut for the first team. Then in midfield KK played two ' playmakers ' I Sibierski and Berkovic who made a welcome return. McManaman and Barton filled the other midfield places in the absence of suspended Wright-Phillips and injured Tiatto and Sinclair. Wanchope and Anelka were the strikers with Macken and Fowler on the bench. Well that was an attacking side we thought. We are in for some goals today!!! Yes but as it turned out not by our side.
City 0 Leicester 3 November 9th
att. 46,905
Muzzy Izzet just about to be booked for fouling Barton
After 12minutes Leicester took a surprise lead when a break left Jordan Stewart beat the debutante City keeper from just outside the area
City had another narrow escape a little later when a cross was missed by everybody.
8 minutes into the second half disaster struck. Distin who had been continually hassled by Dickov appeared to push the ex-City player in the penalty area.
The end result was that Distin got booked and Leicester were awarded a penalty.
Dickov scored from the spot and City were two down.
Six minutes later and things went from bad to worse with a header from Bent beating Ellegaard to give City a mountain to climb and not a rope in sight!
This one of few City chances when Anelka's scuffed shot went past the post
Another chance for Anelka. This time his shot was deflected.
With just ten minutes to go another name goes into the book - Billy McKinley. By now the stands were beginning to empty as City failed to make any headway against Howey and Co.
This was a very poor performance against a hard working side that played for each other and defended well. I wonder whether Annelka thrives better on his own up front and Sibierski though clever at times lacks the pace needed in the Premiership. How we missed Wright-Phillips. Berkovic and Sibierski in the same side is asking a lot of Barton who like McManaman did not have the best of games. There is a break now before the next game and There is a lot of work to be done to sort this lot out!
Team
Ellegaard 6: Sun 6, Dunne 6, Distin 6 Tarnat 6: Barton 5 (Boswelt 6), Berkovic 7, Sibierski 6, McManaman 6: Wanchope 5 (Fowler 5) , Anelka 6 :

City 0 Middlesbrough 1 November 30th 2003
att. 46,890

After two league losses and the exit from the European competition following the goalless draw in Poland one might have hoped there would have been extra effort by the players to keep City in touch with the group going for 4th place. McManaman and Fowler were dropped in favour of Reyna and Wanchope and with Seaman injured Kevin Ellegaard was again in goal with Peter Schmeichels young son Kasper on the bench. City certainly played better but then Middlesbrough were pretty poor and had little of the play. With several 'star' names in their team one would have expected more enterprise from Middlesbrough but after the early Christmas gift of an own goal by a devastated Jihai Sun, Middlesbrough were quite content to sit back and soak up the pressure. Alas City again lacked penetration in the opposition area and many crosses were either poorly directed or easily dealt with. Though Bartons tackling was Ok his passing was poor and Oh for the creative input of either Benarbia or Berkovic.
Easily the biggest cheer of the day rewarded the appearance of City favorite Uwe Rosler back to thank the City fans who had bombarded him with good luck messages following the news of his cancer. Now in remission he must have been wishing he was back playing in the new stadium.
Annelka in an acrobatic dual with Mills and Cooper.
Missing the sturdy left foot of Tarnat, City made a hash of a free kick. Perhaps a square ball to an unmarked Sinclair might have been a better option. There appears to be a total lack of guile about any of City's dead ball situations.
Another City attack comes to naught
Schwarzer, easily the busier of the two keepers saves well from Sinclair
Schwarzer in action again following a corner
After about 30 minutes Middlesbrough got the all important goal when Jihai Sun involuntarily put a crossed ball into his own net.
A clash of heads between Barton and Doriva ended with the latter having to leave the field to be replaced by ex PLC player Greening who was given a suitable welcome!
Team:
Ellegaard 6 : Sun 6, ( Fowler 5 ) Sommeil 7, Dunne 7, Distin 7: Wright-Phillips 7, Barton 6, (Sibierski 6), Reyna 7, Sinclair 5: Anelka 7, Wanchope 5:
Another City attack is foiled to frustrate the home supporters
A shot by Wright-Phillips goes just wide
I fear that unless the lack of goals is sorted pretty quickly and a partner to Anelka is found City will find themselves in the bottom half of the table. There were signs of more effort today but this Middlesbrough side should have been well beaten. Neither Wanchope or Fowler look capable of linking well with Anelka so maybe Macken should be given a chance before the January buying spree starts - not that we have any money to spend! unless someone goes ! Oh and don't we have a several million pound striker playing on loan in Mexico! McManaman has gone off the boil. Sinclair rarely looks an England player - Bartons passing is poor - Bosvelt and Sibierski have not lived upto their reputations or salaries! Today we were not helped by referee Riley who refused City a blatant penalty when Wanchope was pulled back by Mills after an error by Schwarzer. I now dread his appearance. But we cannot blame everything on the referee. Perhaps if City had scored once they would have had many more. I cannot remember a game when one team had so much of the play and not scored. At times it was a bit like a training ground attack versus defence session! Still no matter how much City dominated play the bottom line is that the scoring touch has gone and unless this is sorted soon the relegation zone beckons. Sloppy passing particularly in the visitors back third reduces the number of clearcut chances and in the Premiership defences are usually well organised so you just have to keep focussed and make the maximum use of any openings.